Remaining firm in her party's opposition to the United Progressive Alliance government's decision on FDI in retail, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that her party is not in favour of the government being toppled.
"I have had a discussion with the prime minister on FDI in retail. I told him that we don't want the government to be toppled on this issue. This is a very sensitive issue. But at the same time, it is not possible for us to support FDI entry into retail. I am sorry," the Trinamool Congress chief told reporters after an administrative meeting in Hooghly district.
"Since you are requesting me, we can discuss this in the party. But our party's stand is clear," she said.
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'Our party's stand on this is declared in our manifesto'
Urging the PM to reconsider and withdraw the Centre's decision, she said, "If necessary, the government should talk to all UPA partners and seek suggestions and ensure that the move is withdrawn."
"The prime minister requested me to reconsider my party's stand (on the issue). I requested him if the Centre could reconsider the decision. We have a definite stand on this issue. Our party's stand on this is declared in our manifesto," she said.
Claiming that farmers were forced to buy fertilisers at higher prices, Banerjee said, "Who is responsible? The Centre is responsible. The Centre has also not kept its word to raise the minimum support price for jute growers. We have to protect our farmers. That is our government's policy."
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'TMC wants a rollback of the FDI decision'
Photographs: Reuters
Trinamool Congress leader and member of Parliament Derek O' Brien told mediapersons from New Delhi that his party "wants a rollback of the decision of allowing FDI in retail. TC's stand is consistent".
The Trinamool Congress is the second largest constituent in the UPA with 18 members in the Lok Sabha.
Meanwhile, with Parliament adjourned for the ninth consecutive day after uproar over FDI and other issues, the Congress on Friday sought the cooperation of the Opposition to run it smoothly.
"When both the ruling party and Opposition decide to run the House, it would continue to run," Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi told reporters outside Parliament House.
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'Cong needs cooperation of the opposition'
Photographs: Reuters
Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned on Friday for the ninth consecutive day amid noisy scenes over FDI and other issues. "The government is ready with business agenda, there are 31 Bills pending on which discussion should take place and 24 more Bills to be introduced. We are ready to conduct legislative business in the House but we need the cooperation of Opposition to run the House," Alvi said.
He said the Opposition had earlier agreed to pass two Bills in a day but in a sudden change of stand they are not ready for discussion now.
"We are always ready for discussion. But opposition is not ready for it," he said. On the Bharatiya Janata Party's stand over FDI issue, Union Minister Harish Rawat said, "We can understand opposition by the Left. They are against reforms. But why BJP, which always talks of second generation reforms, is opposing it. They always say they are in favour of reforms but when we bring reforms, they oppose it."
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